1975: Paul Allen and Bill Gates, friends who had co-written a programming language for the Altair hobby-kit personal computer, license it to the makers of the Altair. This programming language is the first Microsoft product.
January 1, 1979: Microsoft moves from Albuquerque, NM, to the Seattle area.
1980: Microsoft chosen by IBM to create operating system for its first PC. Microsoft buys the software for $50,000 from another company and calls it MS-DOS. Steve Ballmer joins Microsoft.
August 12, 1981: IBM introduces the PC, running on MS-DOS.
1983: Microsoft introduces its Word word-processing program, announces plans to create Windows operating system. Allen resigns as vice president, but remains on the board of directors.
November 1985: Microsoft ships its first version of Windows.
March 13, 1986: Microsoft’s stock goes public.
August 1, 1989: Microsoft introduces earliest version of the Office business software suite.
1991: Federal Trade Commission investigates claims Microsoft monopolizes the market for PC operating systems. Investigation closes two years later without a formal complaint.
January 1, 1994: Bill Gates marries Melinda French on the Hawaiian island of Lanai.
July 1994: US and European antitrust investigations settled; Microsoft agrees to change contracts with PC makers. Settlement is rejected in federal court, then reinstated in 1995.
August 24, 1995: Microsoft launches Windows 95.
November 27, 1995: Microsoft releases Internet Explorer 2.0, challenging Netscape’s Navigator Web browser.
December 7, 1995: Gates details shift in Microsoft strategy to focus on the Internet.
August 6, 1997: Microsoft and Apple Computer agree to share technology and set aside long-standing feud.
October 20, 1997: Justice Department sues Microsoft, says it violated the 1994 consent decree by requiring computer makers to use its Internet browser as a condition of using Windows.
May 18, 1998: Justice Department and 20 states sue Microsoft, alleging it illegally thwarted competition. One state later drops out of the suit.
July 21, 1998: Ballmer becomes president of Microsoft.
October 19, 1998: The antitrust trial begins, continues into summer of 1999.
November 5, 1999: US District Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson releases his findings of fact, which label Microsoft a monopoly.
January 13, 2000: Gates steps aside as CEO, giving the post to Ballmer, remains chairman and becomes chief software architect.
February 17, 2000: Microsoft launches Windows 2000.
June 7, 2000: Jackson orders the breakup of Microsoft into two companies.
September 26, 2000 : Supreme Court refuses to hear Microsoft’s appeal of Jackson’s decision, sending the case to a federal appeals court.
September 6, 2001: Justice Department says it will no longer seek a breakup of Microsoft.
November 2001: Microsoft, Justice Department reach tentative deal to settle antitrust case.
October 25, 2001: Worldwide launch of Windows XP.
August 2002: Microsoft unveils business and product changes to comply with Justice Department settlement.
June 23, 2003: Microsoft announces Windows Mobile for handheld computers and phones.
March 24, 2004: European Commission fines Microsoft a record $613 million for antitrust violations, though the sanction is later suspended while Microsoft appeals.
April 2, 2004: Sun settles antitrust claims with Microsoft for $1.95 billion.
June 30, 2004: US appeals court unanimously approves settlement with Justice Department.
December 22, 2004: An EU court rejects Microsoft’s appeal of the March order.
May 12, 2005: Microsoft shows off new Xbox 360; console hits shelves in November.
July 1, 2005: Microsoft agrees to pay IBM $775 million in cash and $75 million in software to settle antitrust claims.
October 11, 2005: RealNetworks settles antitrust claims with Microsoft for $761 million.
March 23, 2006: Microsoft announces a shake-up in its Windows unit, two days after saying it won’t have its next consumer version of Windows ready for the holiday season as planned.
June 15, 2006: Bill Gates announces plans to withdraw from day-to-day duties at Microsoft in July 2008 so he can focus on his charitable foundation.
November 14, 2006: Microsoft introduces Zune music player.
January 30, 2007: Microsoft releases long-delayed Windows Vista and Office 2007.
January 31, 2008: Microsoft makes unsolicited offer to buy Yahoo for $44.6 billion. Eventually walks away after Yahoo won’t agree to even higher offer, $47.5 billion.
June 27, 2008: Gates steps down from full-time role in company, remains board chairman.
*Source – www.timesofindia.com
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